How can I make an AI flight go to the tanker?

[hoover]

Hi folks,

I’ve been trying to get an AI flight of two F-16 52 w/o CFT (Aegean 1.5) to use AA refuelling at a tanker track, but so far I haven’t managed to get it to work. I’ve set a steerpoint to one of the ends of a tanker track (KC-10 extender) and have changed the Action to “refuel”, but the AI will just continue on their merry way when reaching this waypoint.

I’ve also tried reducing their starting fuel to 4000 or so so they have some room in the bags for additional fuel and setting the “patrol duration” which comes up when I select “refuel” on the stpt menu to 15 minutes, but then they just sit on the STP for the duration and nothing happens.

The tanker is up, free and flying its pattern, so what am I doing wrong?

Thanks in advance for any help,

Uwe

PS: Originally I tried setting up a flight of 4 Phantoms F4-EJ, I wonder if they even can AA refuel on a KC-10 or would they need a Intruder Tanker? I’ve googled some images and it looks like they should be “kc-10 compatible”, but I thought I’d better make sure this ain’t the issue here and then went with a flight of Vipers.

[Frederf]

It might be timing. If AI are behind schedule they delete waypoints en route to make up the difference. Also give plenty of time 15-20min patrol time for AAR action. Try to fly as #2 in AI formation and watch what #1 does at what time.

Be aware there are 2 kinds of AAR actions at waypoint. One is for tanker to be a tanker. One is for receiver to be a receiver. Look up a sample auto Tanker flight plan and make sure to use the other action name for receiver flight.

[hoover]

Thanks Frederf, that did it. I was nicely surprised to see Camel1 being busy with refuelling an F16 2-ship when I arrived after sending the F4s on their way to the range (see screenie thread).

I used “refuel” as the WP action and set 15 mins patrol time. It might just be the case that you won’t see any refuelling in the 2d world while it’s going on in 3d.

Cheers, Uwe

[Dee-Jay]

…

https://youtu.be/Kul8SC8L0pI?list=PLEphSnmqiTQXYFChGom3EFDugoFsXVeJ l

[lazystone]

Cheers,
LS

[hoover]

Thanks guys, I think setting the “Patrol duration” for the AI flight that’s supposed to “refuel” did it.

Is there any use for the Intruder tanker at all then? The video only mentions the KC-10 / 135 probably because that’s the only planes the f16 can refuel at, right?

How about older planes with those pointy thingies at the nose (Jaguar, Lightning, Corsair) and so on, will those planes be able to refuel on an Intruder-type tanker? Is there a comprehensive list out there which planes are compatible with certain tanker types?

I just checked the “tactical reference” and it mentions Air refuelling as “boom” for the F-16 (obviously) and, for example, “RCS” for the HAF Corsair. Is this the type of plane that could refuel at an Intruder tanker station?

Thanks in advance,

Uwe

EDIT: I just realised that RCS probably stands for “Radio Cross Section”, and most planes I checked in the TR don’t even mention the “Air refuelling” that’s in there for the F-16 type a/c.

[Frederf]

In Falcon there is only tanker and receiver. Probe, drogue, boom, receptacle it is all the same. You can put F-18 probe into boom tip or drogue into F-16 receptacle.